• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Air Better Than 2023, But All Not Well

New Delhi: With an average air quality index of 367 in the first fortnight, the month of Nov is recording higher pollution than two years ago. Though the average AQI in the period was lower than last year, it was higher than in 2022. The Central Pollution Control Board's data shows average AQI during Nov 1-15 was 376 in 2023 and 345 in 2022. During the first 15 days of the month this year, Delhi recorded 13 ‘very poor' air days and two ‘severe' days, including 12 consecutive ‘very poor' days when AQI surpassed 300 before ‘severe' readings on Nov 13 and 14. No ‘good' to ‘poor' days were seen in the fortnight. In comparison, the first fortnight of Nov last year had six ‘severe' days, six ‘very poor' days and three ‘poor' days. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "This year, Diwali was before November. Even though stubble burning increased in this period, its contribution to PM2.5 was highly variable. Once again, this elevation in pollution points at the high influence of local pollution. We need to step up action against key sources of pollution." TOI had earlier reported that Nov 1-15 was the most polluted stretch in the year in Delhi since it coincides with peak stubble burning, Diwali firework use and an increase in traffic intensity around festivals. At this time, meteorological conditions, including slow wind, low temperature and inversion, also adversely impact dispersion of pollutants. This year, Diwali was observed on Oct 31, while the festival was celebrated on Nov 12 last year. The average AQI during Nov 1-15 from 2018 to 2023 is 371, according to a Delhi Pollution Control Committee analysis. Oct this year too was the most polluted in the past four years. CPCB's data shows that the city's average AQI of 231 in Oct this year was the highest since 2020, when it was 265. The figure was 219 last October, 210 in 2022 and 173 in 2021. In 2019, it was 234; 269 in 2018; 285 in 2017; 271 in 2016; and 264 in 2015. The air quality is likely to remain in the ‘very poor' category in Delhi for the next seven days, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences.

• Down To Earth

First nine months of 2024: India faced 255 days of extreme weather crisis

India experienced extreme weather events on 93% of days from January to September this year. A recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), titled ‘State of Extreme Weather 2024’, reveals the rise in the frequency and severity of these events due to climate change, which impacted millions across the country. In the first nine months, extreme weather events occurred on 255 out of 274 days, affecting nearly every state. The events—ranging from heat and cold waves to cyclones, lightning, heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides—resulted in 3,238 fatalities, damaged 235,862 houses and buildings, affected 3.2 million hectares of crops, and killed approximately 9,457 livestock. The report compared this year’s figures to the same period in 2023, when extreme weather events were recorded on 235 days. In 2023, the events led to 2,923 deaths, impacted 1.84 million hectares of crops, damaged 80,293 houses, and led to 92,519 livestock deaths. According to the report, 2024 set multiple climate records. January was India’s ninth driest since 1901, while February registered the country’s second-highest minimum temperature in 123 years. May saw the fourth-highest mean temperature on record, and the months of July, August, and September all posted their highest minimum temperatures since 1901. In Northwest India, January was the second driest month, while July had the region’s second-highest minimum temperature. In the Southern Peninsula, February was the hottest on record, followed by an exceptionally dry and hot March and April. However, July brought a 36.5% surplus in rainfall, along with the second-highest minimum temperature recorded in August. Over the past nine months, extreme weather types varied from lightning and storms, which spanned 32 states and resulted in 1,021 deaths, to relentless monsoon rains that caused flooding across various regions. Assam was particularly affected, recording heavy rains, floods, and landslides on 122 days, which left large parts of the state submerged. Nationwide, floods claimed 1,376 lives. Madhya Pradesh experienced extreme weather on 176 days, the most in the country, while Kerala saw the highest number of fatalities at 550, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 353 deaths and Assam with 256. Andhra Pradesh reported the highest number of houses damaged, with 85,806 buildings affected. Maharashtra, which recorded extreme events on 142 days, accounted for over 60% of the affected crop area nationwide, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 25,170 hectares of crop damage. Regionally, Central India faced the highest frequency of extreme events with 218 days, followed closely by the Northwest with 213 days. In terms of deaths, the Central region was the worst affected, with 1,001 fatalities, followed by the Southern Peninsula with 762, the East and Northeast with 741, and the Northwest with 734. The report emphasised the need for climate reparations from high-emission countries, whose activities are responsible for much of the damage. Climate models project that extreme weather events will only become more frequent and severe—a trend no longer hypothetical but visible in the escalating crises today. In the first nine months of 2024, India faced extreme weather on 255 out of 274 days, surpassing the 235 days recorded in 2023 and the 241 days in 2022 during the same period. This increase has led to significant human and economic losses, with 3,238 lives lost in 2024 compared to 2,755 in 2022, marking an 18% rise over just three years. Necessary warning The report calls the findings a necessary warning, urging action to address the effects of climate change. “This report is not good news, but it is a necessary warning, a call to recognise nature’s backlash and the urgent action required to mitigate it. Without combating climate change at a meaningful scale, today’s challenges will only worsen tomorrow.”

• Climate Change and Green Economy

India Condemns ‘Discriminatory’ & Unilateral Trade Measures At COP29

India criticised unilateral trade measures implemented under the banner of climate action during Friday's presidential consultations at COP29 in Baku, calling them discriminatory and detrimental to multilateral cooperation. The nation argued that such measures could potentially restrict the development trajectories of developing countries. The stance received substantial support from other developing nations, with both the G77 bloc, representing over 130 nations, and Like-Minded Developing Countries expressing firm opposition. In contrast, developed nations, particularly the European Union, contended that such discussions belong in the World Trade Organization rather than the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At the heart of the debate is the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which proposes taxation on energy-intensive imports including iron, steel, cement, fertilisers, and aluminium from countries such as India and China. The United Kingdom and United States are reportedly developing similar mechanisms. According to the Centre for Science and Environment, this measure could impose an additional 25 percent tax on Indian carbon-intensive exports to the EU, amounting to 0.05 percent of India's GDP. India argued that such measures effectively force developing and low-income nations to shoulder the costs of low-carbon transition, undermining climate finance commitments from developed nations who have historically contributed most to greenhouse gas emissions. Indian officials likened it to ‘asking the victim to pay for the remedy,’ noting that these measures violate principles of equity and UNFCCC provisions. The controversy significantly delayed COP29's opening plenary on Monday, following China's proposal on behalf of the BASIC group to address unilateral trade measures at this year's conference. India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had previously characterised CBAM as ‘unilateral and arbitrary,’ expressing concerns about its potential impact on Indian industries and international trade balance. India emphasised that climate policies should prioritise concessional finance and capacity building for both mitigation and adaptation, rather than imposing trade restrictions. The nation called for careful assessment of such measures' impact on equitable transitions, sustainable development, and poverty eradication efforts.

• Sustainable Food Systems

McDonald’s Burgers Causing Diseases in India yet safe in western countries

This paper examines the health effects of McDonald's burgers in India, with specific reference to their saturated fats, sugars, and salt content. The comparison brings attention to enormous nutritional disparities between what is sold under the brand name McDonald's in India and what is sold in the Western world where the regulations are far stronger. The amount of preservatives used and its potential health implications are discussed. Since comprehensive food safety legislation is lacking in the country, it has worsened the situation that increased the spread of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes. The results made recommendations to strengthen the regulations in addition to public education to address these dietary-related health concerns. McDonald’s, the global fast food giant, has in very short time become an integral part of Indian food system. The brand, highly popular for its convenience and taste, had been popular for decades. However, over the last few decades, health concerns relating to their nutritionally poor product offerings, especially their burgers, have begun to surface. Scientific research has clearly shown that high levels of saturated fats, sugars, and salt in the diet lead to a myriad of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. With the peculiar synergy of factors in India’s regulatory and dietary landscape, the challenge is even more threatening. Nutritional Composition of McDonald’s Burgers The amount of saturated fats, sugars, and salt contained in McDonald’s burgers varies with the type. Many of these ingredients, specially at high levels, cause health problems including obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Compared studies show that nutritional standards for products may vary from country to country when considering McDonald’s. Saturated Fats and Trans Fats: There is evidence suggesting that high intake of saturated fats raises LDL cholesterol concentration, which upon deposition to the arterial wall contributes towards plaque buildup as well as most cardiovascular diseases. Generally, burgers sold under the McDonald’s brand available in India contain higher contents of these fats compared to its Western counterparts. An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2019 said that saturated fats in Indian burgers even exceeded recommended daily intake levels in just one serving. Sugar: Sugars themselves are not generally a key ingredient in burger recipes, but added sugars find their way into condiments through ketchup and buns.

• Down To Earth

First nine months of 2024: India faced 255 days of extreme weather crisis

India experienced extreme weather events on 93% of days from January to September this year. A recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), titled ‘State of Extreme Weather 2024’, reveals the rise in the frequency and severity of these events due to climate change, which impacted millions across the country. In the first nine months, extreme weather events occurred on 255 out of 274 days, affecting nearly every state. The events—ranging from heat and cold waves to cyclones, lightning, heavy rainfall, floods, and lands...

• Director General Office

Opinion: Max Boykoff: We must work through discomfort to make significant progress on climate

As an indication of these central conflicts, one year earlier Indian scholars Anil Agarwal and Sunita Narain published an influential treatise ...

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

CAQM took no learnings from its earlier reactionary ways: Experts

Environmental advocates and public health experts criticised the apparent delay in implementing Stage-3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), arguing that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) appears to have lost sight of its primary mission—to act pre-emptively before air emergencies arise, not after. On Thursday, Delhi entered its second consecutive day of “severe” air quality, making it 48 hours of exposure to toxic air which can not only impact vulnerable groups, but healthy people. Experts condemned the delay, particularly highlighting the plight of the elderly and children. In 2022, officials had announced that Grap measures would be made pre-emptive, rather than reactive – meaning under this approach, stages of response would be introduced at least three days before predicted air quality declines. Previously, CAQM’s sub-committee would wait until AQI touched certain thresholds. For instance, severe-plus measures could only be introduced if AQI remained in “severe plus” zone for 48 hours. However, the panel’s actions on Thursday suggested a return to the outdated reactive approach. Bhargav Krishna, coordinator of the Environmental Governance and Policy vertical at the Sustainable Futures Collaborative questioned the very purpose of the CAQM sub-committee, if it did not meet in advance of AQI deteriorating to such levels. “We need to look at everything. Our forecasts, which are not accurate, and how they feed into proactive implementation of GRAP. We also need to know what means of review CAQM undertakes to ensure continuous improvement in its process,” Krishna said. On Wednesday, CAQM had forecast an improvement in Delhi’s AQI, predicting a shift to “very poor” by Thursday due to anticipated strong winds. But with air quality remaining in the “severe” category, Stage-3 was eventually triggered late on Thursday. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at the think-tank Envirocatalysts stressed that a stronger forecasting system needs to form the basis of CAQM’s actions. “Grap is designed as a preemptive system using forecasts based on regional emissions and meteorology. However, the current limitations in accurately predicting pollution levels hinder its effectiveness as a precautionary measure. Enhancing forecast accuracy is essential for timely, proactive action,” he said. CAQM officials cited unexpected meteorological conditions as a factor in the delay. Arvind Nautiyal, CAQM member secretary said Wednesday’s deterioration was an “episodic event”, with forecasts by both IMD and IITM showing stronger winds likely on Thursday. “The AQI was supposed to show a declining trend on Thursday and was likely to move back to the Very Poor category. Comprehensively reviewing this scenario, it was accordingly decided by the sub-Committee to keep a close watch on the situation, before invoking these stringent and restrictive measures under stage-3. This stage is to be imposed when the daily average AQI is expected or forecasted to be above the 400 mark for a sufficiently long duration, say three days,” Nautiyal said, stating an improvement was seen from Wednesday night onwards, but on Thursday morning, stagnation was once again recorded due to continued fog, requiring action. An IITM official acknowledged flaws in their prediction model. “Wednesday’s deterioration was completely missed. The levels surged to unprecedented highs, exceeding even Diwali levels, with particulate matter spiking tenfold within 12 hours,” the official said, attributing much of the increase to pollution from India’s northwest. “We will need to consider dynamic models.” The Supreme Court’s Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, which oversaw air quality control before the CAQM’s formation in 2021, faced similar criticism over delayed implementation of GRAP measures. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said forecasting models needed to be utilised better. “Grap measures require stronger application of our forecasting systems to enable proactive action. This needs to be done to prevent rapid worsening of the situation. Reactive and slow responses are not effective and expose people to toxic air,” she said.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi’s continuing severe air pollution challenge

On Wednesday, the temperature in Delhi dipped below normal for the first time this winter. The onset of the cold weather was accompanied by a deterioration in the city’s air quality. The city’s air quality index (AQI) registered as “severe” for the first time this season — the most delayed arrival of the extreme polluting condition in the past 10 years. That, however, is no respite for the city’s residents. Analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment has shown that while the peak particulate matter (PM) levels have fallen this season, the city’s average pollution has risen. In other words, pollutant concentration remains a cause for worry. The average PM 2.5 levels, this year, are the highest in five years. Also, the fact that Delhi continues to experience bad air way past the crop residue burning season points to an imperative long highlighted by experts — a policy focus beyond a seasonal approach. In recent years, Delhi’s AAP government has experimented with smog towers and water sprinklers. Smog towers are supposed to act as giant air purifiers. However, by all accounts, their efficacy is restricted to the immediate vicinity, leaving the broader cityscape unaffected. There has also been no audit of the emissions from these machines. Similarly, the jury is out on cloud seeding and the use of drones, two measures that have found prominence in the Delhi government’s recent list of solutions. Excessive emphasis on such questionable responses has detracted from building the institutional capacities required to clean up the city’s air. This task, of course, cannot be undertaken in an emergency mode. But in the three years since it replaced the Supreme Court-mandated EPCA as Delhi’s nodal pollution control agency, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invested very little in data-driven, science-based solutions. Advertisement Farm fire incidents in Haryana and Punjab have been coming down in the past few years. However, reports continue to indicate high pollution levels in the two states. On Tuesday, Chandigarh recorded the second-worst air quality in the country. The city municipality’s response to the crisis is similar to its counterpart’s in Delhi — sprinkling water and using fogging machines. Joining the dots between local and regional pollution could be beyond the capacities and mandate of municipalities. This is where an agency such as the CAQM should step in. Solutions such as airshed pollution management — which zeros in pollution hotspots in regions — require coordination between local and state-level agencies. The CAQM has largely been operating as a regulatory agency. The central government agency needs to step up and join the dots between local and regional pollution, beyond seasonal issues such as stubble burning.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

As Delhi chokes, GRAP Stage 3 brings ban on diesel vehicles & construction

New Delhi: For the second consecutive day, Delhi’s air quality remained in the “severe” category, prompting authorities to impose stricter restrictions under Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The measures, which include a ban on construction activities and restrictions on older vehicles, will take effect from 8 am on Friday. The Delhi government has also announced the suspension of physical classes for primary schools until further notice. However, online classes will continue. “Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be shifting to online classes, until further directions,” Chief Minister Atishi, who also holds the education portfolio, said in a post on X.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Pollution choke is on Delhi again

Delhi’s pollution was firmly in the “severe” zone of the air quality index (AQI) for a second straight day on Thursday, as calm winds amplified the effects of local pollutants and stubble-fire smoke sheathed the Capital in a dome of filthy grey, hurling residents into an unmitigated public health disaster and underscoring the incompetence of agencies and officials who, once again, failed to fend off a nightmare that haunts the city every year. The Capital recorded a 24-hour AQI of 424 at 4pm, worse than the reading of 418 at the same time on Wednesday, showed data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Agencies and governments expressly responsible for quelling the crisis either shrugged their shoulders at the rapidly worsening crisis or chose to pass the blame to everyone but themselves. “This is an air emergency. Like previous years, we seemed to have learned no lessons and people who suffer every year continue to suffer,” said Bhavreen Kandhari, an environmental activist part of the citizens’ group Warrior Moms. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the central agency whose sole task is to control pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR), belatedly imposed curbs under Stage 3 of its response plan on Thursday evening, a day after the air quality first hit “severe”. The agency had met on Wednesday evening as the AQI surged into the upper margins of the “severe” category towards record levels, but, inexplicably, refrained from taking any control measures. CAQM’s own charter says: “Actions under Stages 2, 3 and 4 of the GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) shall be invoked in advance of the AQI reaching to the projected levels of that stage.” And yet, the body was again behind the curve on pollution control. This, despite the Supreme Court pulling up the agency several times over the past two months alone, along with Delhi government agencies and the state government of Punjab and Haryana. During a hearing in September, the top court pulled up CAQM for failing to act once again. “Calling meetings will not yield anything. Actions must follow,” it said. Though agencies said inspection teams fanned out across farmlands in north India to snuff out stubble fires, it clearly hasn’t worked. Punjab has recorded 7,626 fires so far and Haryana 1,035. Arvind Nautiyal, CAQM member secretary, told HT Wednesday’s deterioration was due to an episodic event, with forecasts by both IMD and IITM showing stronger winds were likely on Thursday. This led to them not invoking Grap, he said. “The AQI was supposed to show a declining trend on Thursday and was likely to move back to the Very Poor category. Comprehensively reviewing this scenario, it was accordingly decided by the sub-committee to keep a close watch on the situation, before invoking these stringent and restrictive measures under Stage 3. This stage is to be imposed when the daily average AQI is expected or forecasted to be above the 400 mark for a sufficiently long duration, say three days,” he said. Also in the dock was the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which runs the governments in Delhi and Punjab, home to the bulk of India’s winter farm fires. Instead of acting on pollution within the states it governs, it trained its guns on Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The 12-member panel took few preventive or mitigatory measures for months, even as the triggers and causes for the toxic smog that masks north India every winter are now well known : Vehicular emissions, local industries, construction, garbage burning, and above all, smoke from Punjab’s and Haryana’s burning paddy fields. The party came to power in Punjab in 2022; before that, its leaders periodically blamed the agrarian state and its administration for the pollution crisis. But on Thursday, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai shifted track. Referring to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) of data from October 12 and November 3, he said a large chunk of pollution was coming from outside Delhi. “It shows only around 30% is from sources within Delhi and the remaining 70% from outside. For this, we need cooperation from NCR governments too,” he said. In winter, long-range transport winds blow from Punjab and Haryana towards Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, bringing dense, toxic plumes of smoke from scorching paddy fields to the National Capital Region (NCR). Last year, the contribution of farm fires to Delhi’s PM2.5 (an ultrafine pollutant) concentration peaked at 35.43% on November 3, when the AQI hit 450.

• Sustainable Habitat

No Air Quality Sensors, 268 C&D Sites Get DPCC Notice

New Delhi: Out of the 620 construction and demolition (C&D) sites in the city, over 40%, spread over 500 square metre, have not installed air quality sensors. It is mandatory for the C&D sites to install real-time air quality sensors so that govt can monitor pollution levels. Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has issued showcause notices to 268 such sites. Commission for Air Quality Management has imposed a ban on C&D activities from Friday, exempting the projects that are less dust-generating, emergency and of national importance. Of these 268 sites violating the norm last year, Rajouri Garden has the highest number at 63, followed by GK I at 41. Other areas with a high number are Kalakaji at 38, Punjabi Bagh at 37 and Vasant Vihar at 31. "The installation of air quality sensors helps us in identifying sites that are generating high dust pollution. We have issued showcause notices to these sites. On failing to comply, they will be shut down, and an environmental compensation will be imposed," said a DPCC official. Dust is one of the main sources of pollution in Delhi. A 2018 joint study by The Energy and Resources Institute and Automotive Research Association of India stated that the contribution of dust (soil, road, and construction) was 25% and 17% in PM2.5 and PM10, respectively, during winter. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at Envirocatalysts, said, "Construction activities are responsible for high air pollution exposure to the nearby populations, so transparent public sharing of air quality data collected by the construction sites both on physical display boards for nearby populations as well as online will not just enhance compliance but also accountability and deployment of measures to reduce pollution from those sites." According to a recent study by CSE, "The existing operational C&D waste sector is projected to more than double in the coming years. If not fully recovered and recycled, construction waste can turn into a major polluter choking our cities. Though progressive steps are underway to set up C&D processing plants in cities, these have been marred by complaints of underutilisation and unviability due to inefficient waste management and market linkages." Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of CSE, said, "Recycling of C&D waste enables full recovery of resources and adds economic value to the waste, creating livelihood and jobs. But their utilisation and economic viability are compromised due to weak waste management systems in cities and poor market uptake of the recycled products by the construction agencies."

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Explained: Why Delhi-NCR struggles with severe air pollution every winter

The air quality in India’s capital has worsened, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) rising above 400, a level the World Health Organization calls ‘hazardous’. For the millions who live in Delhi and the National Capital Region, this is not merely an environmental crisis but a public health emergency. According to a recent study, India loses more than a million lives annually due to air pollution alone. In response to this emergency situation, the Supreme Court has scheduled an urgent hearing on November 18 to review efforts made by the authorities to curb the pollution. Why is winter air more polluted? Although emissions remain similar throughout the year, pollution and hazardous air quality worsen in Delhi-NCR during winter months. This can be attributed to multiple factors including temperature inversion in which a layer of cool air forms near the ground, trapping pollutants and preventing them from dispersing. Also, low wind speeds during the winters reduce the dispersion of pollutants. Then there is the problem of burning of crop residue in neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana that makes headlines every year as the winter approaches. The resulting smoke, combined with wind patterns, contributes significantly to Delhi’s air pollution. History of Delhi’s Air Quality Index New Delhi faced hazardous air quality for the third consecutive day on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 409, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Thick smog continued to blanket the city, severely limiting visibility and disrupting both traffic and flight operations. Top contributor to air pollution in Delhi A study by the Centre for Science and Environment reveals that during the time period of October 12- November 3, 2024, vehicular emissions are the largest contributor to Delhi’s air pollution, accounting for 51.5 per cent of the city’s pollution. Neighbouring districts add 34.97 per cent, farm fires contribute 8.19 per cent, and dust particles make up 3.7 per cent of the total air pollution in the city. The analysis is derived from data provided by the Decision Support System for Air Quality Management in Delhi, developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune. Another study by air quality tech company IQAir suggests that Delhi’s air quality is declining due to a combination of natural and human-made pollutants. Construction activities, landfills, and agricultural practices contribute significantly by releasing dust particles, which increase particulate matter in the air. Bare, open lands and fields also generate dust, especially during windy conditions, further deteriorating air quality. Additionally, wildfires and the burning of waste produce harmful smoke and soot, adding to the pollution with toxic particulates and gases. Industrial emissions, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, lead to the formation of secondary pollutants like ozone. Vehicle emissions, particularly from heavy traffic, release carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons, intensifying pollution in congested areas.

• Climate Change and Green Economy

Unilateral Trade Measures In Name Of Climate Action 'Discriminatory, Harm Global Cooperation': India

India on Friday said unilateral trade measures in the name of climate action are "discriminatory, harm multilateral cooperation" and go against the principles of the UN climate change convention. Making an intervention in the presidential consultations on 'unilateral measures' at COP29 in Baku, India said this is a matter of global concern that needs urgent consideration to ensure the development pathways of developing countries are not constricted. Other groups of developing countries, including the G77, the largest bloc representing over 130 nations at the UN climate talks, and Like-Minded Developing Countries also registered their strong opposition on the issue. However, developed countries, particularly the European Union, argued that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is not the right platform to discuss this issue, as it is already being addressed by the World Trade Organization. India said restrictive unilateral measures force developing and low-income nations to bear the costs of transitioning to low-carbon economies, undermining climate finance commitments from developed nations, which have historically benefitted from industrialisation and contributed the most to greenhouse gas emissions. "They effectively will result in the reversal of climate finance mobilised by the developed countries. It is like asking the victim to pay for the remedy," it said. "Any unilateral measures in the name of climate change responses are discriminatory towards developing countries and detrimental to multilateral cooperation. They violate principles of equity and CBDR-RC and the UNFCCC provisions," it said. India further said unilateral trade measures discriminate against countries seeking to industrialise through export-led growth by raising the cost of exports. If the goal is to reduce global carbon emissions, climate policies must focus on offering concessional finance and building the capacity of countries to address both mitigation and adaptation, it said. Trade measures related to climate change need to be assessed for their potential impact on equitable and just transitions, in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty, the country said. Any trade-related climate policy should consider its effect on equitable and just transitions, sustainable development, and poverty eradication, it added. The COP29 opening plenary was significantly delayed on Monday as developed and developing countries debated whether to make "unilateral trade measures", such as the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), an agenda item. China, on behalf of the BASIC group of countries, submitted a proposal to the UN climate body last month requesting that this year's COP address the issue of unilateral trade measures. The CBAM is the EU's proposed tax on energy-intensive products, such as iron, steel, cement, fertilisers, and aluminium, imported from countries like India and China. The tax is based on carbon emissions generated during the production of these goods. Both the United Kingdom and the United States are at different stages of imposing their versions of this mechanism in due course. The EU has earlier argued that this mechanism creates a level playing field for domestically manufactured goods, which must adhere to stricter environmental standards, and help curb emissions from imports. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month termed CBAM "unilateral and arbitrary" and said such measures could potentially harm India's industries and disrupt the balance in international trade. According to the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), CBAM will impose an additional 25 per cent tax on carbon-intensive goods exported from India to the EU. This tax burden would represent 0.05 per cent of India's GDP.

• Climate Change and Green Economy

The Guardian view on UN climate talks: rich and poor nations can strike a win-win deal

More than a century of burning coal, oil and gas has fuelled intense heatwaves, prolonged droughts, heavier rains and devastating floods. To prevent even more severe impacts, the UN global climate summit, Cop29, must deliver tangible results to keep global temperature rises below 2C – the limit defined in the 2015 Paris agreement. Achieving this goal means human societies can only emit a finite amount of additional carbon dioxide, known as the world’s “carbon budget”. Developed nations have exceeded their carbon budgets, while developing countries remain within theirs. Carbon dioxide lingers in the atmosphere for centuries, turning past unchecked fossil fuel use into a costly planetary bill. Between 1870 and 2019, the US, EU, Russia, UK, Japan, Canada and Australia – home to just 15% of the global population – accounted for over 60% of atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. This underscores the climate debt that rich nations in the global north owe to poorer nations. This reality – rather than oil and gas lobbying – should focus minds at Cop29 in Azerbaijan, where leaders must forge a new global climate finance plan by next week. Economists estimate that developing nations need $1tn annually by 2030, a figure that reflects the scale of the climate crisis. Yet there is little sign the rich world will contribute its fair share. A stronger, more unified approach is needed. Many of Africa’s environmental NGOs argue that the continent has been sidelined in global industrial shifts, particularly in green industrialisation, due to its lack of a robust manufacturing base and its role as a raw materials supplier. While advanced economies dominate green innovation, Africa faces significant hurdles, including limited technology transfer, expensive financing and weak governance. The economist Fadhel Kaboub, who advises the Kenyan thinktank Power Shift Africa, sees Cop29 as an opportunity to strike a transformative deal – if the global south can unite and negotiate for the technology and resources it needs to reposition itself in the world economy. Prof Kaboub describes the current climate finance model as “economic entrapment”. The evidence is stark: Africa holds 40% of the world’s renewable energy resources but attracts just 2% of global investments. With 20 out of 38 low-income African nations in or near debt distress, high borrowing costs and a shrinking manufacturing base leave the continent dependent on imports for life’s essentials. These challenges span the developing world, demanding grants, technology transfers and debt cancellation. Prof Kaboub says Donald Trump’s return to the White House could be a chance for countries in the global south to cooperate and forge a bold deal: to double their industrial footprint with green growth, powered by western technology, in exchange for critical minerals essential for the rich world’s energy transition. Africa, holding 20% to 90% of global reserves for 11 such minerals, could lead this shift. The outcome? A greener, richer world, with developing nations becoming key markets for foreign goods and services. Mr Trump may find the allure of crafting the “deal of the century” impossible to resist. Others – such as the EU or China – might also be ready to take up such an offer. Cop29 must mark a turning point where developing nations, united, demand a fair and transformative global partnership for a sustainable future. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and neither could the opportunity to reshape the future.

• Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy

Country positions on the Global Plastic Treaty - Packaging South Asia

Among the panelists are Sunita Narain, director general, CSE, Atin Biswas, program director CSE, Siddharth G Singh, program manager CSE, Julius ...

• Climate Change and Green Economy

COP29: 'जलवायु परिवर्तन के नाम पर एकतरफा कार्रवाई भेदभावपूर्ण', भारत ने विकासशील देशों के साथ ऐसे जताया विरोध

COP29: दिल्ली स्थित थिंक टैंक सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) के अनुसार, सीबीएएम भारत से यूरोपीय संघ को निर्यात किए जाने वाले कार्बन-गहन वस्तुओं पर अतिरिक्त 25 प्रतिशत कर लगाएगा। यह कर भारत भारत के सकल घरेलू उत्पाद का 0.05 प्रतिशत होगा। भारत ने इसी के विरोध में सीओपी 29 के दौरान अपना पक्ष रखा। आइए इस बारे में विस्तार से जानें। जलवायु परिवर्तन के नाम पर एकरतफा कार्रवाई "भेदभावपूर्ण हैं, बहुपक्षीय सहयोग को नुकसान पहुंचाते हैं" और ये संयुक्त राष्ट्र जलवायु परिवर्तन सम्मेलन के सिद्धांतों के खिलाफ हैं। भारत ने शुक्रवार को यह बात कही। बाकू में आयोजित सीओपी29 में 'एकतरफा उपायों' पर अध्यक्षीय परामर्श में हस्तक्षेप करते हुए भारत ने कहा कि यह वैश्विक चिंता का विषय है, जिस पर तत्काल विचार करने की आवश्यकता है, ताकि यह सुनिश्चित किया जा सके कि विकासशील देशों के विकास के मार्ग बाधित न हों। संयुक्त राष्ट्र जलवायु वार्ता में 130 से अधिक देशों का प्रतिनिधित्व करने वाले सबसे बड़े समूह जी-77 तथा समान विचारधारा वाले विकासशील देशों सहित विकासशील देशों के अन्य समूहों ने भी इस मुद्दे पर अपना कड़ा विरोध दर्ज कराया। हालांकि, विकसित देशों, विशेष रूप से यूरोपीय संघ ने तर्क दिया कि जलवायु परिवर्तन पर संयुक्त राष्ट्र फ्रेमवर्क कन्वेंशन (यूएनएफसीसीसी) इस मुद्दे पर चर्चा करने के लिए सही मंच नहीं है, क्योंकि इस मुद्दे पर विश्व व्यापार संगठन पहले ही विचार कर रहा है। विज्ञापन भारत ने कहा कि प्रतिबंधात्मक एकतरफा उपायों से विकासशील और निम्न आय वाले देशों को निम्न कार्बन अर्थव्यवस्थाओं में परिवर्तन की लागत वहन करने के लिए मजबूर होना पड़ता है, जिससे विकसित देशों की जलवायु वित्त प्रतिबद्धताएं कमजोर होती हैं, जिन्हें ऐतिहासिक रूप से औद्योगीकरण से लाभ मिला है और जिन्होंने ग्रीनहाउस गैस उत्सर्जन में सबसे अधिक योगदान दिया है। भारत ने कहा कि जलवायु परिवर्तन से बचाव की कार्रवाई के नाम पर कोई भी एकतरफा उपाय विकासशील देशों के प्रति भेदभावपूर्ण और बहुपक्षीय सहयोग के लिए हानिकारक है। वे समानता के सिद्धांतों और सीबीडीआर-आरसी और यूएनएफसीसीसी प्रावधानों का उल्लंघन करते हैं।" भारत ने आगे कहा कि एकतरफा व्यापार उपाय निर्यात की लागत बढ़ाकर निर्यात आधारित विकास के माध्यम से औद्योगीकरण करने के इच्छुक देशों के खिलाफ भेदभाव करते हैं। इसमें कहा गया है कि यदि लक्ष्य वैश्विक कार्बन उत्सर्जन को कम करना है, तो जलवायु नीतियों को रियायती वित्त की पेशकश करने और शमन व अनुकूलन दोनों को संबोधित करने के लिए देशों की क्षमता निर्माण पर ध्यान केंद्रित करना चाहिए। भारत ने कहा कि जलवायु परिवर्तन से संबंधित व्यापार उपायों का सतत विकास और गरीबी उन्मूलन के प्रयासों के संदर्भ में समतापूर्ण और न्यायसंगत बदलावों पर उनके संभावित प्रभाव के लिए मूल्यांकन किया जाना चाहिए। इसमें कहा गया है कि किसी भी व्यापार-संबंधी जलवायु नीति को न्यायसंगत और उचित परिवर्तन, सतत विकास और गरीबी उन्मूलन पर इसके प्रभाव पर विचार करना चाहिए। सोमवार को COP29 के प्रारंभिक पूर्ण अधिवेशन में काफी देरी हुई, क्योंकि विकसित और विकासशील देश इस बात पर बहस कर रहे थे कि यूरोपीय संघ के कार्बन सीमा समायोजन तंत्र (CBAM) जैसे "एकतरफा व्यापार उपायों" को एजेंडा में शामिल किया जाए या नहीं। चीन ने BASIC समूह के देशों की ओर से पिछले महीने संयुक्त राष्ट्र जलवायु निकाय के समक्ष एक प्रस्ताव प्रस्तुत किया था, जिसमें अनुरोध किया गया था कि इस वर्ष के COP में एकतरफा व्यापार उपायों के मुद्दे पर ध्यान दिया जाए। सीबीएएम यूरोपीय संघ द्वारा भारत और चीन जैसे देशों से आयातित ऊर्जा-गहन उत्पादों, जैसे लोहा, इस्पात, सीमेंट, उर्वरक और एल्युमीनियम पर प्रस्तावित कर है। यह कर इन वस्तुओं के उत्पादन के दौरान उत्पन्न कार्बन उत्सर्जन पर आधारित है। यूनाइटेड किंगडम और संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका दोनों ही इस तंत्र के अपने संस्करणों को लागू करने के विभिन्न चरणों में हैं। यूरोपीय संघ ने पहले तर्क दिया था कि यह तंत्र घरेलू स्तर पर निर्मित वस्तुओं के लिए समान अवसर उपलब्ध कराता है, जिन्हें कठोर पर्यावरणीय मानकों का पालन करना होगा, तथा आयात से होने वाले उत्सर्जन को रोकने में मदद मिलेगी। वित्त मंत्री निर्मला सीतारमण ने पिछले महीने सीबीएएम को "एकतरफा और मनमाना" करार दिया था और कहा था कि इस तरह के उपायों से भारत के उद्योगों को नुकसान पहुंच सकता है और अंतरराष्ट्रीय व्यापार में संतुलन बिगड़ सकता है। दिल्ली स्थित थिंक टैंक सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) के अनुसार, सीबीएएम भारत से यूरोपीय संघ को निर्यात किए जाने वाले कार्बन-गहन वस्तुओं पर अतिरिक्त 25 प्रतिशत कर लगाएगा। यह कर भारत भारत के सकल घरेलू उत्पाद का 0.05 प्रतिशत होगा।